Requirement to Earth Armoured Fibre optic cables

I think that would need consideration of the context.


How/where is the optic cable terminated?


For example, if its between two buildings.... and you terminate the armour to the buildings earthing system... and that system is PME then you could end up joining the neutrals of the supplies together via the armour - that could get very nasty in the event of an open neutral.


One of the (many) reasons for bonding the armour of a power cable to earth is to assist in fault detection & automatic disconnection. This doesnt apply with an optic cable - the armour is soley for mechanical protection. Indeed one of the reasons for using a fibre might be to deliberately form an insulating connection between two buidings.


Perhaps a better way would be to terminate the cable into an insulating box in such a way that the armour cannot be touched & a suitable warning notice afixed to said box?

I think that would need consideration of the context.


How/where is the optic cable terminated?


For example, if its between two buildings.... and you terminate the armour to the buildings earthing system... and that system is PME then you could end up joining the neutrals of the supplies together via the armour - that could get very nasty in the event of an open neutral.


One of the (many) reasons for bonding the armour of a power cable to earth is to assist in fault detection & automatic disconnection. This doesnt apply with an optic cable - the armour is soley for mechanical protection. Indeed one of the reasons for using a fibre might be to deliberately form an insulating connection between two buidings.


Perhaps a better way would be to terminate the cable into an insulating box in such a way that the armour cannot be touched & a suitable warning notice afixed to said box?